Saxophone



March 10, 1936. A, LOQMIS 2,033,774

SAXOPHONE Filed March 23, 1933 4 SheetS-Sheet l mvENTo v BYQ/m ammi/L A. LOOMIS March 10, 1936.

SAXOPHONE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, 1933 BY fam/ub March 10, 1936a A. Loomis 9337774 SAXOPHONE Filed March 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY March 10 1936. A. LOOM@ 29033,?74

SAXOPHONE Filed MaICh 23, 1935 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1936 PATENT GFFICE SAXOPHONE Allen Loomis, Elkhart, Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Indiana Application March 23,

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wood Wind musical instruments, and it is described specically with relation to improvements in saxophones, although the instruments need not necessarily be made of metal.

Wood wind instruments are musical instruments in which the length of a pulsating column of air and the number of segments in which the pulsating column is divided may be altered by opening lateral holes; the control of the lateral holes is effected by key mechanism, and the present invention has the object of improving the arrangement of the key mechanism on instruments of this character.

It is an object of the invention to provide key mechanism which will enable the player oi the instrument to cover or uncover respectively tone holes which are either too large or too numerous to be controlled directly by the digits of the hands of the musician, and it is also an object of the invention to provide an instrument in which the key mechanisms are adapted to control these tone hole covers by fingers of the player which are more or less'remote from said covers. It is, furthermore, an object of the invention to provide key mechanism of a similar type for controlling the register holes or octave holes which are to be opened when it is ldesired to sound higher notes by causing the air column to pulsate in an increased number of segments.

It is another object of the invention to improve the key mechanism for the purpose of increasing rapidity and ease of operation by the fingers, assuring at the same time accuracy and noiselessness of the operation.

Another object of the invention is to improve the key mechanism of these instruments by assuring the permanence of the regulation of the keys or permitting respectively the proper operation of the keys even though a slight misuse of certain parts of the instrument should accidentally take place after the proper setting of the keys.

It is also an object of the invention to enhance the convenience of holding the instrument while operating the keys. This increase of the convenience has become important on the ground that in numerous instances, various combinations of keys may be used for obtaining similar notes owing to the necessity of rapid execution of musical passages in various signatures or for the rapid execution of passages containing acci-dental sharps and flats.4

It is, furthermore, an object of the invention to provide an upper octave key on an instrument of this character in association with a removable mouth pipe of the instrument and to guard said upper octave key against injury which otherwise might be produced by the attachment or adjustment of this removable mouth pipe.

Ind., assigner to C. G. Ind., a corporation of 1933, Serial No. 662,235

For this purpose it is an additional object of the invention to provide an improved octave key mechanism wherein the arm for operating the mouth pipe key moves in a direction contrary to that employed heretofore for the same purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide an octave key mechanism whereby through the actuation of a single thumb-key, the upper or lower octave hole on the instrument is opened, the change from one to the other octave hole being made automatically according to whether the note played is above G-sharp or below A. In connection with this mechanism, it is an object of the invention to provide an automatic structure which will effect the opening or closure of the proper one of the two octave holes with the opening or closing of the tone hole emitting A.

Another object of the invention is to improve the means by which the mouth pipe may removably be secured to the body of the instrument.

It is, furthermore, an object of the invention to provide improved mechanism for maintaining undisturbed operation of the lower octave key by providing means which prevent the binding of the lower octave key which might otherwise be produced by end pressure on the thumb key, this end pressure having been encountered in other instruments making use of octave mechanism of this class and wherein the two keys had been arranged to turn about a common axis. The accidental end pressure on the thumb plate which may be used for operating the lower octave key, is due to the manner in which the instrument frequently is supported when being played. The instrument is frequently maintained firm in its position by a strap hooked to the body of the instrument and passing about the musicians neck. In sliding the left thumb on the thumb plate, it has been found that frequently an end thrust accidentally is exerted upon the thumb plate, but this end thrust which might set up a binding effect on the key also may be exerted occasionally by the flexing of the spring which actuates the key.

Another object of the invention is to arrange in a novel manner four finger-pieces of keys adapted to be played by the little linger of the left hand. Three of these keys control notes which are below the normal range of the instrument and also control the G-sharp in and on the stai. The fourth of these iinger plates is associated with the key for controlling the G- sharp key only.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved key mechanism in association with the G-sharp trill key.

It is, furthermore, an object to provide an improved mechanism for the alternate of E-flat on the rst line and in the top space.

It is, furthermore, an object of the invention to provide a simple, noiseless and durable mechanism for obtaining B-flat by pressing with the two index lingers only.

Another object isV to provide a guard on the lower part of the left side of the instrument to prevent the clothing of the player from interfering with the action of the mechanism,-a condition which might occur owing to the fact that the instrument frequently is held against the right hip of the player at its lower end.

It is, furthermore, an object of the invention to render this guard device readily detachable from the instrument and attachable to the same whenever desired.

With these and numerous other objects in View, an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, to which referenceV is made in the following speccation.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a saxophone embodying the improvements of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the key and lever structure for controlling the upper octave hole and other tone holes;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section and part elcvation on line 4 4 of Fig; 2;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are longitudinal cross-sections and part elevations similar to Fig. 4 of additional forms for supporting a hinge sleeve while preventing the exertion of end thrust against the same;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a portion of a key guard;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail section and part elevation of the key guard illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of an assembly of nger plates and keys adapted to be controlled by theV little nger of the left hand, and also illustrating the connection with the G-sharp trill key andfragments of the forked E-at mechanism; Fig. l1 isan end View against the upper edge of the key plate assembly illustrated in Fig. l()A combined with a cross-section of the body on which the structure is mounted;

Fig. 12 is an edge View of the key plate assembly illustrated in Fig. 10 viewed from the left of the figure;

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan View of the iinger plate for the G-sharp key and a portion of the arm extending therefrom;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the G-sharp key and a portion of the body on which it is mounted; Fig. 15 is a bottom plan View of the iinger plate of the B-natural key which forms a part of thev assembly illustrated in Fig. 19;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary cross-section on line IE5-I6 of Figs. 10 and 14 respectively;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged elevation of the forked E-ilat mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 18 is a cross-section on line I8-I8 of Fig. 17, in combination with the body of the instrument on which this part of the key mechanism is secured;

Fig. 19 is an elevation of a portion of the body showing another association of key mechanisms mounted thereon;

Fig. 20l is a cross-section on line ZIJ-20 of Fig. 19 with the pad for the G-tone hole in closed position;

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Fig.' 20 with the pad for the tone hole G in open position;

Fig. 22 is an end elevation of a cross arm secured to the pad of one tone hole and adapted to operate a pad of another tone hole; and

Fig. 23 is partly an end elevation and partly a section ofthe joint by which the mouth pipe is detachably and adjustably secured to the body of the instrument.

The body of the instrument, as shown in Fig. 1, is composed of the longitudinal branch I which preferably tapers in one direction, the bow or bend 2 which continues the taper in the same direction, and the bell or are 3, these three parts being firmly united as by soldering or the like. A curved mouth pipe 4 is removably secured to the upper end of the branch I, and this mouth pipe has at its upper extremity the usual tuning device which does not form a part of the present invention, and the mouthpiece 6.

The upper octave key 8 is disposed on the concave side of the mouth pipe 4, and in the present invention, therefore, the upper octave hole socket 9 is located near the upper end of the mouth pipe 4 and on the lower side of said end. The details of this socket are not illustrated, but it may be assumed that for the purpose of avoiding the ilow of condensed fluid or of saliva into the upper octave hole, the socket may consist of a short tubular stud, the inner end of which projects slightly above the adjacent circumferential inner wall surface of the mouth pipe.

The upper octave key 8 comprises a bar the curvature of which corresponds approximately to the curvature of the mouth pipe 4, and this bar is pivotedto the heads of the posts II), Figs. 1 and 2, the pivotal support including the cross arms I I which extend from both sides of the key. While the upper end of this key 8 carries the pad or stopper I2 for the upper octave hole socket and is yieldingly urged to closed position by a spring (not shown), the lower end of the key is provided with a transversely curved segmental plate i3 of relatively great length and approximately equidistant to the body I, to assure proper operation even if the accurate alinement of the parts should have been disturbed. In order to move the key 8 to open position, a pressure is exerted upon this abutment or segmental plate I3. The pressure is applied through a companion abutment I4 formed as the upper end of a bar I5, which is provided with a cork inlay, not illustrated, to avoid the production of disturbingclicks or noises.

The bar I5 carrying the companion abutment I4 is not directly secured to the body of the instrument, but is carried in such manner as to be properlyl actuated in different Ways. For this purpose the abutment bar I5 carries ixedly two spaced parallel links I6, I'I which are both pivotally secured to a bar I8 extending parallel to the abutment bar I5. To this bar I8 two links I9,V 20 are xedly secured, and their opposite ends are fixed to a hinge sleeve 2i which is rotatable on a rod 22, Fig. 4, supported in posts 23 and 24. This hinge sleeve is firmly connected with a thumb-piece 25. A spring, not illustrated, has a tendency to maintain this depressible thumbpiece spaced from the body of the instrument, While upon depression of the thumb-piece, the sleeve 2l Will be rocked and a downward rocking movement will be transmitted by the parallel links I9, 20 to the floating lever structure comprising the bar I8, links I6, I1 and abutment bar I5. The latter Will thereby operate the key 8 to open the upper octave hole.

A bail-shaped element 26 is secured to the body of the instrument adjacent the abutment end of the bar I5 to limit the upward movement of this end of bar 8; on the upper side, the abutment bar I5 also is provided with a cork inlay 2'I or with some other inlay to absorb the clicking noise which might be produced.

From the above it will be seen that the operative engagement between the relatively narrow abutment end I4 of the bar I5 and the lower end of the key 8 will be maintained, even though the mouth pipe 4 should be slightly twisted about the axis of the branch I of the instrument. It is for this purpose that the contact portion of the key is constructed in the form of a transverse segment of relatively great length.

The link Il which connects the abutment bar I5 with the parallel bar i8 is extended beyond its point of pivotal attachment with said parallel bar, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. This extension of the upper link il is bifurcated at 28 and receives loosely between the prongs, a slidable block 2S. A screw pin 3i is rotatably mounted in this block 29 and the projecting end of this pin is flxedly inserted in the free end of an arm 32 which is pivoted on a short hinge sleeve 33 also surrounding the rod 22, Fig. 4, the latter being extended beyond the post 24 and having its end supported in another post 34. This arm 32 is continued beyond the sleeve 33, and carries at the free end an abutment 35 at the upper face of the stopper 36 which normally is in contact with the lower octave hole socket 3i, Fig. 3. This lower octave hole socket is positioned in the body of the instrument below the mouth pipe 4. Upon depression of this stopper 3S, as for instance by a pressure exerted upon the abutment 35, the lever 32 is rocked and transmits this movement through the slide block 29 to the link Il, whereby a rocking movement is imparted to the abutment bar I5 of the composite lever structure.

It will be seen, therefore, that upon depression of the thumb-piece 25, the parallel bar I8 is rocked downward, and that thereby the abutment bar I5 also is rocked downwardly to open the normally closed upper octave hole.

The G-key 33, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, is soldered to the hinge 39 which is pivotally supported on the body by the posts 43, 40, and has soldered to it an arm to which the stopper 4l for the A-natural tone-hole is soldered, and it also carries an arm 42 which has the abutment 43 adapted to actuate the abutment 35. The conventional spring, not shown, is xed in one oi the posts 43, and reacts against a suitable abutment on the under side of the hinge 39 in such a direction as to urge the A-natural stopper 4I into the open position and the abutment 43 into contact with the abutment 35 on the lower octave key 32, thereby closing the hole 31. The acts of pressing and releasing the G- key 33 to close or open the A-natural tone-hole, automatically change the opening of the octave holes from the upper one to the lower, or from the lower one to the upper respectively, provided the thumb-key is pressed at the time, thus opening the upper octave hole only for notes above G, and opening the lower octave hole only for notes below A-natural. For this itis only necessary that the spring actuating the hinge 39 be stiff enough so that, acting thro-ugh the abutments 35, the sliding block 29 and slotted arm 28, Il and the ab'utnients I 4, i3, the relatively weak spring of the upper octave key 8 is overcome. Vice versa, when the G-key 38 is pressed, the abutment 43 releases the abutment 35 and the relatively weak spring of the upper octave key reverses the mechanism and raises the stopper 36.

The arm 32 is soldered to the short hinge 33 which is pivotally connected to the body so as to turn freely under the inuences only of the forces applied to the pin 3! and abutment 35. t is important that this key be free from any binding end-thrust, such as may be applied to the thumb-key The preferred construction for accomplishing this is shown in 4, in which the ends of the hinge 33 fit freely between the faces of the posts 24, 34 which support the steel rod 22 on which the hinge 33 fits.

An alternative construction for protecting the lower octave key 22 against end-thrust is shown in Fig. 5. In this iigure the post 24 (shown in Fig. 4) is omitted, and the thumb-key hinge 2 i is continuous between the faces of the posts 23 and 34', by which it is pivotally supported either by pivot-screws (as shown in Fig. 5) or on a steel rod as shown in Fig. 4. rIhe upper end of the hinge 2l is cylindrical at 44, ts inside of the lower octave-key hinge 33, and is provided with a shoulder 2l', which keeps the lower octave key 32 in place. Any upward end-thrust which may be imposed on the thumb-key is transmitted to the face of the post -4 and the hinge 33 of the lower octave key is cut slightly shorter than the cylindrical portion 44 of the thumbkey hinge to avoid binding.

Another alternate construction for protecting the lower octave key against end-thrust is shown in Fig. 6. This differs from the preferred construction in having the post 24 replaced by a collar 45, which is secured on the rod 22 by a set screw, and thus prevents the transmission of thrust to the lower octave key 32.

Another alternate construction for protecting the lower octave key against end-thrust is shown in Fig. 7, in which the thumb-key hinge is in two parts, 46 and 4l, to which are soldered the links 48, 49, the lower one of which has also the crowned shape shown (at 48) in Fig. 3. To the outer ends of these links is soldered the bridge-rod 53, thus transmitting any upward end-thrust to the face of the post 34. The lower octave key hinge 33' ts freely between the opposing ends of the inged parts 45 and 4l.

The novel assembly of keys or finger pieces for controlling the G-sharp key and other keys is illustrated in Figs. l0 to 3.6. This assembly prises a plurality of flat finger-pieces a' i., closely to each other and permitting the little nger to slide from one to the other of *hose plates, and it also permits the opening of the G- sharp pad by any one of several of these keys, even though the G-sharp finger-piece itseh" should not be actuated.

At a suitable point within the reach of the small ringer of the left hand of the player, the G-sharp finger-piece Bil is connected with an arm 5l which is pivotally supported adjacent its lower end, 71ig'. 14, on a bar 32 extending transversely of the axis of the instrument. A spring E?. normally maintains this arm in a position in which the finger-piece 60 is raised. This arm also is deected laterally at 34 near the iingenpiece which has substantially triangular shape, with the elengated base of the triangle transversely of the axis of the instrument.

This key controls the pad for the tone hole, and this pad or stopper is on an arm extending from a sleeve (Ef-sharp mounted under control of a weak spring-not shown-which tends tol hold the pad 65 in open position. The arm 6| is provided with a notch 6l into which another arm 66, extending from the sleeve 68, normally lies, this arm being adapted to rock the sleeve and thereby open the pad 65 when the finger piece 66 is depressed. A small piece of cork 68 cemented to the lower face of the arm 6l prevents the disagreeable click, or other noise, which would be caused by engagement of the arm 6| with the body of the instrument. It will be seen, therefore, that upon depression of this last named arm the normally closed pad 65, under action of its spring will be raised.

The assembly of finger-pieces associated with the G-sharp iinger piece 66 comprises a low C- sharp nger piece 76, a low B finger-piece ll, and a low B-flat nger piece "l2, these ngerpieces being arranged to form a substantially rectangular plate assembly wherein the several nger-pieces, however, are operable independently of each other.

The low C-sharp ringer-piece 'lil has an arm which is fastened to a long hinge i3 extending parallel to the axis of the instrument a-nd supported in suitable posts. At the opposite end of this hinge 13, a curved arm 'lll is secured, which carries the low C-sharp stopper i5 having its inn-er face directed upward, as sho-wn, so that upon a depression of the nger-piece i8, the pad 75 is moved to open position, while upon release of the nger-piece 76, this pad is held closed by means of a spring, not shown. The ringer-piece 'l is provided on its under face with a short angle piece T6, Fig. l1, the horizontal arm of which normally rests on the deected portion 64 of the arm 6| for the G-sharp key 66. It is obvious, therefore, that upon depression of the low C-sharp finger-piece 78, this angle piece or wiper 'i6 will have the effect of also depressing the upper end of the arm 6l in the same manner as if the finger-piece 68 would have been depressed by the little nger toI permit the G-sharp pad 65 to swing to open position, while simultaneously therewith, the low C-pad 'l5 carried at the lower end of the hinge 'i3 is opened.

The plate assembly of nger-pieces also comprises a finger-piece l! for the low B-key, which in this assembly is surrounded by the other plates 68, 7|) and l2, and which is xedly connected by means of an arm to a hinge: sleeve Tl supported by posts and extending parallel to the axis of the instrument. In the embodiment shown, this hinge Tl carries xed thereto an arm 'i8 for the low B- pad 79 which is normally open. It is obvious, therefore, that upon depression of the ngerpiece 1|, this low B-pad 'i9 will be closed against the action of a spring, not shown, which holds it normally open. This iinger-piece ll, however, also is provided on its lower face with an angular extension 88 overlying the deflected portion 64 of the arm 6|, for the finger-piece 66, so that upon depression of the low B-key il approximately centrally located in the assembly of finger-pieces at the upper end, the G-sharp pad 65 also will be actuated, this pad as described above, being then opened under the action or a spring, not shown, since the arm 66 may follow the downward movement of the arm 6|.

The fourth finger-piece 'l2 forming part of the assembly of lnger-pieces described, serves for actuating the low B-flat pad 8|. The key 12 is equipped with an arm rigidly secured to the hinge 82 which again is supported in posts and extends parallel to the hinges 'i3 and Tl between the same. This finger-piece 'l2 overlies the arm 8U which extends from the low B linger-piece so that upon depression of the 'low B-iiat finger-piece- 12, the low B-key also will be depressed, as will be seen from Fig. 12, in which an extension 83 of the wiper 8D is shown directly below the lower surface of the key l2. Upon depression of this key "l2, therefore, the low B-natural pad 'i9 is being depressed, and at the same time the pad or stopper 65 for G-sharp is actuated by being released from closing position, since the angle piece 86 of the low B-key actuates the G-sharp arm 6|.

The assembly of linger-pieces or plate structure indicated at the upper end of Fig. 10, has a number of great advantages over the conventional arrangement of the linger-pieces for the same pads on other instruments. The arm 6| of G-sharp key 68 being pivotal about an axis transverse to the axis of the instrument, renders the finger-piece 66 adapted tomove in a direction which is natural for the little iinger of the left hand (which actuates this lnger-piece). Another advantage of this structure is that slip between this linger-piece 66 and the wiper 'I6 on the low C-sharp key 'i6 as well as slip between said finger-piece and the wiper 80 of the low B-key 'll is eliminated, these wipers also being adapted to` operate the G-sharp key. 'Ihis arrangement, furthermore, makes it possible that the low B-fiat key l2 likewise operates the G-sharp key 60 owing to its action on the extension 83 on the low B-key The arm 6| extending from the G-sharp iinger plate 66 and pivotally supported on a transverse axis 62 is provided at its lower end with an angular extension 84, which as illustrated in Figs. l0 and 16, overlies a cam 85 xed to the hinge sleeve 86, to which the arm 8l for a G-sharp trill key 88 is secured. The extension 84 of the arm 6| of the G-sharp iinger plate 66 is normally held in cam engaging position, as indicated, Fig. 16, owing to spring 63, Fig. 14. Upon a pressure being applied to the nger plate 68, or upon a pressure being exerted from above on the deiiected portion 61% of the arm 6| by the wipers 'I6 or 86 respectively, the extension 84 will move away from the cam which is xedly associated with the hinge sleeve 86 of the G-sharp trill key 88. This hinge sleeve 86 is freely rotatable on its steel rod which is supported in posts in the usual way on instruments of this character, and the G-sharp stopper thereby will be adapted to drop into engagement with the corresponding tone hole, not shown, on the body of the instrument. A trill to G-sharp tone, therefore will be produced upon opening the G-sharp pad 65 which is normally in closed position.

The offset portion 66 of the arm 6| for the G-sharp plate 68, is, as indicated in Fig. 11, approximately at the level of the axis of the hinge sleeves 'Vl and 82 which are associated with the keys 7| and l2 respectively, thereby avoiding or minimizing the slip of the wiping surfaces. This offset portion 68 also has such angular relation to the arm 6| to produce the correct lever arm ratios for insuring that the contacts are without backlash at the extremes of the motion imparted to the arm either by actuation of the G-sharp key 6!) independently of any of the other keys, or by the actuation of any of the other keys 10, and l2 respectively, each of which will upon depression also cause a depressing movement of the arm 6|.

In order to facilitate the proper operation of the keys 60', 10,v 1|, 12 in the plate structure assembly illustrated at the top of Fig. 10, adjacent keys are equipped with rollers positioned at the marginal portions of these keys. The low C-sharp key 10 and the low B-ilat key 12, for instance, are provided with the rollers 89 and 90 respectively at adjacent edges to facilitate the sliding motion of the tip of the little finger from one key to the other.

The roller 90 on the low B-at fley 12 is more important, owing to the fact that the end of the nger would have a tendency to catch at the edge of the plate 12 when sliding from the depressed key 10 to the undepressed key 12 which is to be operated next. In prior instruments, rollers for these keys were located parallel to the axis of the little finger which had to impart the depressing movement to the keys. The little finger normally is too Weak to produce this depression of key 12 by a lateral movement parallel to the axis of the instrument, and heretofore these rollers were disposed, as for instance, the rollers 90 and 9| for the low B-key 1|, and the low C-sharp key 10 respectively, or the rollers 93, 94 for the low B-key 1| and the low B-flat key 12 respectively.

The spring for opening the normally closed pad 65 for the G-sharp key is a very light spring permitting the arm 65' by means of which this pad is secured to the sleeve 68, to turn freely. This spring would have a tendency to open the pad 95 unless it would be prevented by contact of an element which overlies the pad 65. This element is illustrated in Fig. 19 as a bar 95, which extends from a G-natural pad 96 in direction of the axis of the instrument to the G-sharp pad 65. The spring acting on the hinge sleeve 68 for the G- sharpstopper 65 is so much lighter than the spring 63 underlying the arm 6|, Fig. 14, of the G-sharp key, that unless the G-sharp key is depressed by any of the means described, the reaction of the strong spring 63 against the body of the instrument will overcome the light spring, not shown, which acts on the pad 65, and will keep said pad in closed condition. The element for returning and holding the pad 65 in this closed position is the bar 95 soldered or secured in some other suitable way to the pad 96 for G- natural.

This pad 96 is secured by means of an arm to a hinge sleeve 91, Fig. 19, which is relatively short, but from which an arm 98 extends outward to carry a link bar 99 having another arm connected to a short hinge sleeve in alinement with the first hinge sleeve 91. This pair of sleeves 91, |00 is adapted to turn freely on a rod which also carries hinges for other pads, as for instance, the hinge sleeve |01, the arm |02 of which is connected with the pad |03 for the F tone-hole. The pad |94 is located directly above the same and serves for controlling the F-sharp hole, while, according to Fig. 1, another pad farther down serves for controlling the low and middle E-hole.

The three pads |04, |03, and |05 are in alinement along a line parallel to the axis of the instrument, and they are all fixed to separate hinges turning independently on the same rod |06, Fig. 20. They are, furthermore, actuated by the usual arms or clutches, as shown, and owing to the instrumentalities illustrated in Fig. 19, a depression of any of these pads, |04, |03, or |95 will also induce a depression of the G-stopper or pad 96, with the result that the bar 95 soldered to the pad 96 will then also depress the pad 65 for the G-sharp tone hole.

Two instrumentalities for effecting rotation of the hinge 91 upon depression of the pad |04 or upon depression of. the pad |93 are indicated in Fig. 19; the pad |04 for the F-sharp tone hole having an extension on the arm |01, which extension engages from below the connecting bar 99 for the divided hinge 91, |00, so that upon depression of this pad |04, the pad 96 also must be depressed.

Similarly, an arm |98 secured to the hinge |0| of the pad |93 for the low and middle F-hole will cause the connecting bar 99 to be actuated for also depressing the stopper or pad 96 for the G-hole, and for closing thereby positively through engagement with the bar 95 the G-sharp tone hole.

This bar 95 extending from the G-stopper 96 to the G-sharp stopper 65 also crosses an arm or Wiper |09 which is secured to a hinge sleeve 0, Fig. 19. This hinge sleeve extends upward, and being supported in the usual posts, carries adjacent its upper end by means of the arm a pad ||2 for the upper and middle B-hole. This stopper |2 has xed to it the auxiliary B-at key ||3 which may be played by the rst finger of the left hand and may be considered to be fixed on the hinge ||0. The key ||3 being soldered to the pad ||2 for the upper and middle B-hole may, therefore, independently operate this pad. On the other hand, a depression of the stopper 96 also may induce a depression of the pad |2 owing to the engagement of the bar 95 with the Wiper arm |09 which is secured to the hinge sleeve I0.

The operative surface or front end of the wiper arm |09 has a novel formation inasmuch as this operative surface is curved transversely as Well as longitudinally of the axis of the instrument, and may be described as having a spherical curvature. This is fully apparent from Figs. to 22, where this spherical surface is indicated. It will be seen that the radius of this curvature is a relatively short one. By reference to Fig. 22, it will also be noted that this auxiliary element 95 for controlling the closure of the G-sharp pad 65 is provided on its lower surface with a thin cushion I4 of cork, felt, or other sound deadening material cemented thereto and adapted to effect a noiseless operation of the wiper arm |09 and of the G-sharp stopper 65. This noise absorbing cushion ||4 extends along the bottom surface of the bar 95 close to the flange of the G-hcle stopper 96, and makes the necessary contact for playing the upper and middle B-flat, which is emitted by the tone-hole ||5 when all tone-holes between the latter and the mouth-piece are closed.

The spherical curvature of the operative surface of the wiper arm |09 prevents this arm from striking at any time the edge of the cushion I4. Wherever in prior instruments of this character the sharp Contact of the Wiper arm with the edge of the noise absorbing cushion had not been prevented, this contact against the edge portion had a tendency to loosen the noise absorbing cushion from the arm, producing thereby a metal to metal contact between the arm 95 and the wiper arm |09, thereby spoiling the proper tone control and inducing a clicking noise.

According to Fig. 22, the wiper arm |09 is curved transversely and different relations are indicated in this figure. In the position shown in full lines, the relation of the parts corresponds to that which is shown in Fig. 20, wherein the pad 96, and hence also the pad 65 are depressed. In Fig. 2l, the wiper arm |09 occupies an inclined position relatively to the horizontal, and

Fig..22 indicates in dotted lines Ythis angular relation of the wiper arm with respect to the horizontal.

The displacement of the wiper arm |09 may, however, be lengthwise of the bar 95. A displacement of this character may be due to an angular setting between the hinges 9'I for the pad 95 and the hinge I I 0 of the Wiper arm |09 instead of a parallel setting. If these two hinge axes are notV exactly parallel, this angular longitudinal displacement of the arm |09 along the lower surface of the element 95 must necessarily occur. The broken lines infFig. 22 show the correct relative position of the arm |09 due to the customary springs when the keys are not depressed by the lingers, and this constant pressure results in a dent being made in the sound deadening material ||4 of the bar 95, out of which'depression the operative surface of the wiper bar |09 would have to move when the keys are depressed. Owing to the transverse curvature of this operative surface,-a curvature of about the radius indicated in Figs. 20 and 21,-a Very smooth action is produced.

In Figs. 1, 1'7 and 18, the stopper or'the tone hole for playing forked E-flat is indicated at I5. It is secured by arm II6 to a hinge I I'I, which is coaxial with the hinge TI of the low B-key This last named hinge assembly is extended beyond the point indicated in Fig. 10 downward, and another post is vprovided at'the lower end of the rod. A spring, no-t shown, serves in a known way for normally maintaining the stopper or pad H5 in open position.

The tone hole socket is indicated in Fig. 18 at H8, and this set of elements can be played to emit the lo-w and middle E-'flat when the pad is in open condition, while all other tone hole Stoppers down to and including the stopper |05 for the E-hole are closed, and all Stoppers below this point are not actuated by the fingersof the musician.

The playing of this forked E-at in the lco-nventional instruments was very diicult, since in the operation of the mechanisms for producing this tone, parallelism of the various hinges was essential.

'I'he irregularity of the axial alinement or parallelism of the various hinges occurred due to the influence of the co-ndense water which may collect in a saxophone. Whenan instrument of this character is laid down after having been played, the water 4of condensation runs onto Vthe key pad Ii of stopper II5, Fig. 18, and the excess of moisture on this pad caused it to swell. When the hinge is considerably closer to the tone-hole socket |I9 than shown in Fig. 18 (and as it had been previously commonly made), the swelling of any portion of the key pad, and particularly of that portion which is closest to the hinge, prevented it from closing with ordinary pressure at the side farthest from the'hinge, and this failure of properly closing the tone hole I I9 naturally interfered with the operation of the instrument.

In the present embodiment, the stopper ||5 is depressed by applying a force in direction away from the body, this force being applied to an arm |20 which projects from the hinge sleeve I|'| towards the left, Fig. 1'7, and underneath which another arm I2I may engage, the latterV being secured to another hinge |22 mounted in axial alinement with the hinge sleeve 86 of the G- sharp trill stopper 88. In'the p-resent application'the kactuating mechanism for the application of the stopper I I5 tothe forked'E-lat hole relieves'the arrangement from crowding together the hinges for the stoppers 96, |04, |03, |05, indicated in Fig. 19. Owing to this arrangement of the Various hinges in a Very limited space, a satisfactory forked E-ilat mechanism had heretofore not been produced. The hinge element |22 may be mounted in the usual posts, such as posts |29 xed in the instrument body.

Contrasted herewith, the Fig. 18 shows that the operating crank I2| for the stopper |I5 is fixed to the hinge sleeve |22, to which is also xed the key |23 for low and middle E-natural. This key |23 has an extension |24, to the lower surface of which a noise absorbing cushionor pad |25 is secured, Fig. 18. This footor extension |24 serves as a stop for determining Ithe upward movement of the E-key |23, and since this stop part is located on the outside of the instrument, it is free from derangement by compression or swelling of the sound-deadeningfpad, which might otherwise be produced if it were on the inside. The posts on which the hinge |22 is located, are so low that the pad I 25 moves approximately along a line radial to the body.

The E-key |23 has no spring acting directly on the same. It is maintained in raised condition through the engagement of the wiper arm I 20 with the crank I2I. It may also be urged towards the raised position by the stopper |03 which it overlies, as shown in Fig. 17, and this stopper |03, therefore, is definitely closed when the player depresses the key |23 for playing the low and middle E.

As shown in Fig. 19, furthermore, the low D- key |30 is carried by a hinge sleeve |3| to which also the stopper |05, Fig. 1, is secured. This key |30 also overlies the stopper |03, as shown-in Fig. 19, and when the low D-key |30 is depressed, it will also depress the F-stopper |03, leaving thereby the middle finger of the right hand of the player free to be raised from'the E-key |23. Due to this arrangement, the stop-per I|5 can'be lifted, and will open the forked E-flat tone-hole II9 without allowing the F-hole to open.

In order to make the above described forked E-at mechanism compact and without undue overhanging strains, the post |56 which supports the lower end of the hinge I'I for the low B-key, Fig. 10, is located nearer to the top end of the instrument than' is customary. This'has the added advantage of making the hinge 'I'I short, and, in connection with the oblique offset of the stopper-arm T8, results in a more rigid low B-key. The stopper-arm |33 for the low B-flat key 8| is obliquely offset for the same reason, 'and for effectiveness and simplicity of appearance.

As shown in Fig. 1, the Stoppers 3|, 'I9 on the bell of the instrument, and the stopper ||5 at the bend are guarded against injury, which otherwise might occur, this injury particularlyV affecting the stopper arms, and the hinges carrying the arms. These parts also might interfere with the clothing of the player during the operation of the same. The larger instruments normally are held with the lower part against the right hip, and in this manner the arms and Stoppers on the left side of the instrument might interfere with the clothing and might become bent-or the like.

Guard structures are, therefore, provided and the common guard for these stoppers in the present application is shownin Fig. las comprisingfa single frameworkmade of a longitudinal fixed bar |40 and a plurality ofarxns'ldl, I42,-'|'43 extending laterally from said bar on the body of the instrument, the arms |4l, 42 bridging the space between the bell and the body and being secured on the bell to another arm |44 which extends substantially in the direction of the axis of the bell. The downward directed ends of these guard elements are secured in posts |55, shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 9. The ends of these arms are provided with circumferential grooves i413, and these grooved ends are inserted in the short posts |45 rising from plates which are soldered or otherwise fixed to the body.

Set screws |41 are then inserted thru these knobs entering the circumferential groove |46 and thereby holding the guard arms in place. Upon removal of the set screws |41, the entire guard structure may, therefore, be readily withdrawn to permit adjustment of the Stoppers, the arms, hinges or the like, and may also equally rapidly be restored to position and then again be locked in place by theset screws.

An additional improvement resides in the manner in which the mouth pipe 4 is adjustably connected with the branch of the instrument, the novel adjustable joint for these elements being indicated in Fig. 23. The mouth pipe 4 is provided at its lower end with an enlarged cylindrical sleeve |56 xedly secured at its upper end at |5| to the lower portion of the mouth pipe, but projecting beyond the lower edge of the mouth pipe. Another sleeve |52 having a sliding fit in the first named sleeve |56 is secured by soldering or in some other way at |53 to the upper end of the branch of the instrument, and the branch and mouth pipe, therefore are adjustable rotatably relatively to each other. A clamping screw |54 extending through the slot |55 maintains the parts in their adjusted position and is arranged to prevent any injury to the upper octave key 8 if the two parts should be turned relatively to each other. In order to prevent the formation of a capillary siphon if the slides are put together wet, the sleeve |59 on the mouth pipe must extend beyond the lower end of the mouth pipe 4 approximately to the distance indicated in Fig. 23. Theclamping screw |54 is mounted operatively in a pair of lugs |56 (one only being shown) rigidly mounted on opposite sides of the slot |55, as is well known in the art.

I claim:

1. In a saxophone, a body, a curved mouth pipe in axial ycontinuation of said body, an upper octave key being located on the concave side of said curved mouth pipe, a lower octave key on the body and extending transversely of the upper octave key, means on the body for changingfrom the. upper octave to said lower octave, said means including an abutment bar in continuation of said upper octave key, means for actuating said abutment bar, a floating lever construction operable by the lower octave key, said floating lever construction including a bar parallel to the abutment bar and a link between said last named bars, said link being operable from the lower octave key upon actuation of the G-key while remaining inoperative upon the actuation of the first mentioned means for operating the abutment bar.

2. In a wood wind instrument, the combination of a straight body, a curved mouth pipe in axial continuation thereto, an upper octave hole being located on the concave side of said mouth pipe, an upper octave key extending along the concave side of said mouth pipe, an abutment bar overlying the straight body, a hinge supported from said body, links extending from said hinge to a bar parallel to said abutment bar, additional links extending from said parallel bar to the abutment bar, means for rocking the hinge to actuate the abutment bar and upper octave key, a lower octave hole being located on the straight body, a lower octave key and means extending from the lower octave key to one of said last named links, whereby upon operation of said lower octave key independent of said first named hinge rocking means actuation of the upper octave key is produced.

3. In a wood wind instrument, the combination of a straight body, a curved mouth pipe in axial continuation thereto, an upper octave hole being located on the lower side of said mouth pipe, an upper octave key extending along the under side of said mouth pipe, an abutment bar supported spaced from said body in alinement with the upper octave key, a hinge sleeve supported on the body, a finger piece for rocking the hinge sleeve, a bar parallel to said abutment bar, links extending from said hinge sleeve to said last named bar and being xedly connected thereto, other links extending from the last named bar to the abutment bar and being pivotally secured to said parallel bar, a lower octave. key, a second hinge in alinement with said rst named hinge and connected with said lower octave key, said lower octave key being associated with one of said links, means for operating the lower octave key, and means for preventing binding end thrust upon said second named hinge upon actuation of the first named hinge by said ringer-piece.

4. In a saxophone, the combination with the saxophone body, of a curved mouthpipe connected with the saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole, a stopper for said octave hole, said stopper being carried by a tiltable key bar which is arranged wholly on the under side of said mouthpipe and curved to conform to the contour of the latter, and means in alignment with said key bar for tilting the latter to open said octave hole.

5. In a saxophone, the combination with the saxophone body, of a curved mouthpipe connected with the saxophone body and provided with an octave hole on the under side thereof, a stopper for said octave hole, said stopper being carried by a tiltable key bar which is arranged wholly on the under side of said mouthpipe and curved to conform to the contour of the latter, and swingable means in alinement with said key bar for tilting the latter to open said octave hole.

6. In a saxophone, the combination with a saxophone body, of a curved mouthpipe connected with the saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof, a stopper for said octave hole, said stopper being carried by a tiltable key bar which is arranged wholly on the under side of said mouthpipe and curved to conform to the contour of the latter, and a bar for tilting said key bar, said bar being movable toward the saxophone body and positioned substantially in alignment with said key bar.

7. In a saxophone, the combination with the saxophone body, of a curved mouthpipe connected with the saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof, a stopper for said octave hole, said stopper being carried by a tiltable key bar which is arranged wholly on the under side of said mouthpipe and curved to conform to the contour of the latter, an-d swingable means arranged on the same side of the saxophone body for Vtilting said key bar.

8. In a saxophone, the combination with the saxophone body, of a curved mouthpipe connected with the saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof, a stopper for said octave hole, said stopper being carried by a tiltable key bar which is arranged wholly on the under side of said mouthpipe and curved to conform to the contour of the latter, and means carried by the saxophone body for tilting said key bar to open said octave hole, said means including a complementary arcuate element carried by one of the key bar actuating elements.

9. In a saxophone, the combination with the saxophone body, of a curved mouthpipe detachably connected with the saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof, a stopper for said octave hole, said stopper being carried by a tiltable key bar which is arranged wholly on the under side of said mouthpipe and curved to conform to the contour of the latter, and means for tilting said key bar to open said octave hole, said means including an arcuate element to facilitate actuation of said key bar regardless of the tortive position of said mouthpipe. Y

10. In a saxophone, the combination with the saxophone body, of a curved mouthpipe detachably connected with the saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof, a stopper for said octave hole, said stopper being carried by a tiltable key bar mounted on the under side of said mouthpipe, the lower end of said key bar being provided with a lateral extension on either side thereof, and means carried by the saxophone body and engaging said key bar lateral extension for tilting the latter to open said octave hole.

1l. In a saxophone, the combination with the saxophone body, of a curved mouthpipe detachably connected with the saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof, a stopper for said octave hole, said stopper being carried by a tiltable key bar mounted on the under side of said mouthpipe, the lower end of said key bar being provided with an arcuate abutment element which is adapted to be engaged by means carried by the saxophone body for tilting said key bar to open said octave hole.

l2. In a saxophone, the combination of a saxopho-ne body provided with a lower octave hole, a stopper for said octave hole, a curved mouthpipe connected with said saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof,'a spring actuated stopper normally closing said upper octave hole, an octave key carried by the saxophone body for lifting said upper octave stopper independently of said lower octave stopper, a G-key, spring actuated means associated with said G-key Vfor'normally closing said lower octave hole, and mechanism controlled by said keys, whereby, upon depression of both keys, said upper octave hole is closed and the lower octave hole is opened.

13. In a saxophone, the combination of a saxophone body provided with a lower octave hole, a stopper for said octave hole, a curved mouthpipe connected with said saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under' side thereof, a spring actuated stopper normally closing said upper octave hole, an octave key carried by the saxophone body for lifting said upper octave stopper independently of said lower octave stopper, a G-key, spring actuated means associated with said G-key for normally closing said lower octave hole, and mechanism controlled by both of said keys, whereby, upon depression of both keys simultaneously, said upper octave hole is closed and the lower octave hole is opened by the upper octave stopper spring control.

.14. In a saxophone, the combination of a saxophone body provided with a lower octave hole, a stopper for said octave hole, a curved mouthpipe connected with said saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof, a spring actuated stopper normally closing said upper octave hole, an octave key carried by the saxophone body for lifting said upper octave stopper independently of said lower octave stopper, a G-key carried by the saxophone body, spring actuated means associated with said G-key for normally closing said lower octave hole, and mechanism controlled by said keys, whereby, upon depression of both keys, said upper octave hole is closed and the lower octave hole is opened, and whereby, upon release of said G-key, and maintaining depression of said octave key, said upper octave hole is opened and the lower octave hole is closed.

l5. In a saxophone, the combination of a saxophone body provided with a lower octave hole, a stopper for said octave hole, a curved mouthpipe connected with said saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof, a spring actuated stopper normally closing said upper octave hole, an octave key carried by the saxophone body for lifting said upper octave stopper independently of said lower octave stopper, a G-key carried by the saxophone body, spring actuated means associated with said G-key for normally closing said lower octave hole, and

mechanism controlled by said keys and including a floating lever operable by said octave key, whereby, upon depression of both keys, said upper octave hole is closed and the lower octave-holeis opened.

16. In a saxophone, the combination of a saxophone body provided with a lower octave hole, a tiltable carrier element provided with a stopper for closing said octave hole, a curved mouthpipe connected with said saxophone body and provided with an upper octave hole on the under side thereof, a spring actuated stopper normally closing said upper octave hole, an octave key carried `by the saxophone body for lifting said upper octave stopper independently of said lower octave stopper, a C-key carried by the saxophone body, spring actuated means associated with said G-key for normally closing said lower octave hole, devices operatively connecting said lower octave topper carrier with said upperV octave stopper including mechanism controlled by both keys, whereby, upon depression of both said keys, said upper octave hole is closed and the spring action controlling said upper octave stopper is transmitted through said devices and mechanism to said lower octave stopper carrier, thereby opening said lower octave hole.

ALLEN LOOMIS. 

